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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Looks like we are going to add a boy to the Monaghan Clan!! Sister and Brother in-law are having a boy! So exciting! I can see it now, my girls dressing the poor boy up in pink and pearls! Oh the fun we'll have!! The Dad may not be so happy about it... we'll see! Baby is healthy and that is numero uno! So exciting to see the family growing!

After $300 in gas and 25+ hrs in the car I'm thankful to be home!! (why in the world is gas so expensive??!?! it just shouldn't be allowed)

I'm thankful that my sweet niece Jasmine is finally getting better after 11 days in the hospital (she ate 3 meals yesterday and bloodwork is finally showing improvement!!!). Still has the chest tube and pic line in but is showing much improvement. Praying the infection will be completely gone and she will be back to her sassy self soon! I LOVE that sweet girl!

I'm thankful for good times spend with sweet friends.

And I'm thankful that sweet Bennett is here save and sound! Weighing in at a whopping 5 lbs 11 oz and 17 1/4 inches long. I love her already!

Many more posts to come on our Florida trip documentation and the Mason Diaper Shower!!! Get excited sweet followers!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Hello my trusty followers! My Cowgirl Baby Shower Post for sweet Bethany was featured over at A to Zebra Celebrations! Which is so exciting to me! Ever since I laid eyes and Nancy's sweet blog, it was true blogger love! She is amazing and has done some beyond creative and amazing parties, so truly it's an honor! Thanks again Nancy for spotlighting!! So please go over and check out her blog for tons of inspirational ideas :)

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Many people who know me know that I LOVE The Cheesecake Factory. This obsession started in college when we would go there for just about any occasion including, out of town guests, birthdays, girls night out etc. etc. 3 of my favs are the Chicken Artichoke Soup (special only surved on certian days), Avacado Egg Rolls, Miso Salmon and the Banana Cream Cheesecake.

Found the recipes after some serious searching and plan to try them ASAP! Thought I'd share the wealth :)

**Please note these may not be exact but are the closest I've found so far**

Stir together vinegars, tamarind, honey, and saffron in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave for 1 minute. Stir until tamarind is dissolved. In a blender, puree tamarind mixture, cashews, 2/3 cup cilantro, garlic, onions, sugar, pepper, and cumin. Pour mixture into a bowl and stir in oil. Refrigerate until ready to use. Gently stir together avocado, tomatoes, onion, 1/2 teaspoon cilantro, and salt. Distribute filling evenly onto center of each egg roll wrapper. Position a wrapper so that a corner is pointing toward you; fold the bottom corner up, 1/4 of the way over the filling. Brush remaining corners and edges of the wrapper with water, roll up from side to side, fold top corner over all and press to seal. Repeat with remaining wrappers. Continue by deep-frying the egg rolls in 375 degree oil for 3-4 minutes, until golden brown. Drain on brown paper bags or napkins.

Chicken Artichoke Soup

Ingredients:

4 medium fresh artichokes

Juice of 1 lemon

2 cups water

2 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 medium russet potato, diced

1 small carrot, diced

1 small onion, diced

1 celery stalk, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 bay leaves

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 pound (about 2 cups) cooked chicken, torn into bite-sized pieces

1 cup heavy cream

4 Tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan or Romano cheese

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Croutons for garnish, optional :)

Preparation:

Place artichokes in a steamer tray in a large stockpot with the water. Squeeze the lemon juice over the top of the artichokes. Cover and steam until tender, 30 to 45 minutes, depending on size. Remove artichokes, reserving the liquid, and let cool until you can handle them.

Scrape the flesh from the bottom of each artichoke leaf into a stockpot. Add the reserved cooking liquid. Discard the fuzzy choke from the bottoms of the artichokes and chop the hearts. Add to the stockpot along with the chicken broth, wine, potatoes, carrots, onion, celery, garlic, bay leaves, and oregano.

Boil the soup, uncovered, about 15 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Remove and discard bay leaves.

Puree vegetables, with their liquid in a blender
Return artichoke puree to the stockpot. Stir in chicken, cream, and Parmesan cheese. Bring back to a low simmer, stirring constantly until heated.

Place salmon in a shallow dish, and rub with 3 tablespoons lemon juice. Season with lemon pepper. Cover, and allow to stand 10 to 15 minutes.

Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat, and saute shallot 2 minutes, until tender. Mix in remaining lemon juice, vinegar, and ¼ cup wine. Simmer until reduced by at least ½. Stir in cream and milk. Season with parsley, thyme, salt, and white pepper. Cook and stir until thickened. Whisk in ¼ cup butter. Set aside and keep warm.

Heat remaining ¼ cup butter in a skillet over medium heat. Place salmon in the skillet, skin side up, and cook 1 to 2 minutes, until seared. Set salmon aside. Deglaze the skillet with remaining 1 tablespoon wine, then mix in the cream sauce. Return salmon to the skillet, and cook 8 minutes in the sauce, or until easily flaked with a fork. Serve with the sauce.

Beat cream cheese in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add sugar and cornstarch; beat until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas, whipping cream, and vanilla. Pour cream cheese mixture into prepared crust. Place pan on cookie sheet and bake 15 minutes.

Water for Elephants is a historicalnovel by Sara Gruen. The novel centers on Jacob Jankowski and his experiences in a traveling circus called The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.

Synopsis
The story is told as a series of memories by Jacob Jankowski, a ninety-three year-old man who lives in a nursing home.
As the memories begin, Jacob Jankowski is twenty-three years old and preparing for his final exams as a Cornell University veterinary student when he receives the news that his parents were killed in a car accident. Jacob's father was a veterinarian and Jacob had planned to join his practice. When Jacob learns that his father was deeply in debt because he had been treating animals for free as well as mortgaging the family home to provide Jacob an Ivy League education, he has a breakdown and leaves school just short of graduation. In the dark of night, he jumps on a train only to learn it is a circus train. When the owner of the circus, Uncle Al, learns of his training as a vet, he is hired to care for the circus animals. This consequently leads Jacob to share quarters with a dwarf named Walter (who is known as Kinko to the circus) and his dog Queenie. A few weeks later Jacob is summoned to take a look at Camel, an old man who, after drinking Jamaican ginger extract for many years, can't move his arms or legs. Fearing Camel will be redlighted (thrown off the train while moving), Jacob hides him in his room.
The head trainer, August, is a brutal man who abuses the animals in his care (such as the new elephant Rosie) as well as the people around him. Alternately, he can be utterly charming. Jacob develops a guarded relationship with August and his wife, Marlena, with whom Jacob falls in love. August is suspicious of their relationship and beats Marlena and Jacob. Marlena subsequently leaves August and stays at a hotel while she's not performing. Uncle Al then informs Jacob that August is a paranoid schizophrenic and then gives him a threat: reunite August and Marlena as a happily married couple or Walter and Camel get redlighted. (Redlighting refers to throwing circus workers off the moving train as punishment or in order to avoid paying them[2])
A few days later after discovering that August has tried to see Marlena, Jacob visits her in her hotel room. Soon after comforting her however, Jacob and Marlena sleep together and then eventually declare their love for each other. Marlena soon returns to the circus to perform (and also to have secret meetings with Jacob), but refuses to have August near her, which makes Uncle Al extremely mad. Days later Marlena informs Jacob that she is pregnant.
One night Jacob climbs up and jumps each car, while the train is moving, to August's room, carrying a knife between his teeth intending to kill August. However, Jacob backs out and returns to his car, only to find no one there but Queenie. He then realizes that Walter and Camel were redlighted and Jacob himself was supposed to be too.
As the story climaxes, several circus workers who were redlighted off the train come back and release the animals causing a stampede during the performance.
In the ensuing panic, August is killed by Rosie the elephant, and the only one who sees the incident is Jacob. As a result of this incident, which occurred during a circus performance, the circus is shut down. Soon after, Uncle Al's body is found with a makeshift garrote around his neck. Marlena and Jacob leave, along with several circus animals (Rosie, Queenie and others), and begin their life together.
Ninety-three year old Jacob is waiting for his family to take him to the circus. It is uncovered that Jacob and Marlena married and had 5 children spending the first 7 years at another circus before Jacob gets a job as a vet for the zoo. After finding out no one is coming for him, elderly Jacob goes to the circus on his own. He soon meets the manager Charlie and begs him to accompany the circus by selling tickets. Charlie agrees and Jacob believes he has finally come home.

Synopsis

The story is told as a series of memories by Jacob Jankowski, a ninety-three year-old man who lives in a nursing home. As the memories begin, Jacob Jankowski is twenty-three years old and preparing for his final exams as a Cornell University veterinary student when he receives the news that his parents were killed in a car accident. Jacob's father was a veterinarian and Jacob had planned to join his practice. When Jacob learns that his father was deeply in debt because he had been treating animals for free as well as mortgaging the family home to provide Jacob an Ivy League education, he has a breakdown and leaves school just short of graduation. In the dark of night, he jumps on a train only to learn it is a circus train. When the owner of the circus, Uncle Al, learns of his training as a vet, he is hired to care for the circus animals. This consequently leads Jacob to share quarters with a dwarf named Walter (who is known as Kinko to the circus) and his dog Queenie. A few weeks later Jacob is summoned to take a look at Camel, an old man who, after drinking Jamaican ginger extract for many years, can't move his arms or legs. Fearing Camel will be redlighted (thrown off the train while moving), Jacob hides him in his room.
The head trainer, August, is a brutal man who abuses the animals in his care (such as the new elephant Rosie) as well as the people around him. Alternately, he can be utterly charming. Jacob develops a guarded relationship with August and his wife, Marlena, with whom Jacob falls in love. August is suspicious of their relationship and beats Marlena and Jacob. Marlena subsequently leaves August and stays at a hotel while she's not performing. Uncle Al then informs Jacob that August is a paranoid schizophrenic and then gives him a threat: reunite August and Marlena as a happily married couple or Walter and Camel get redlighted. (Redlighting refers to throwing circus workers off the moving train as punishment or in order to avoid paying them[2])
A few days later after discovering that August has tried to see Marlena, Jacob visits her in her hotel room. Soon after comforting her however, Jacob and Marlena sleep together and then eventually declare their love for each other. Marlena soon returns to the circus to perform (and also to have secret meetings with Jacob), but refuses to have August near her, which makes Uncle Al extremely mad. Days later Marlena informs Jacob that she is pregnant.
One night Jacob climbs up and jumps each car, while the train is moving, to August's room, carrying a knife between his teeth intending to kill August. However, Jacob backs out and returns to his car, only to find no one there but Queenie. He then realizes that Walter and Camel were redlighted and Jacob himself was supposed to be too.
As the story climaxes, several circus workers who were redlighted off the train come back and release the animals causing a stampede during the performance.
In the ensuing panic, August is killed by Rosie the elephant, and the only one who sees the incident is Jacob. As a result of this incident, which occurred during a circus performance, the circus is shut down. Soon after, Uncle Al's body is found with a makeshift garrote around his neck. Marlena and Jacob leave, along with several circus animals (Rosie, Queenie and others), and begin their life together.
Ninety-three year old Jacob is waiting for his family to take him to the circus. It is uncovered that Jacob and Marlena married and had 5 children spending the first 7 years at another circus before Jacob gets a job as a vet for the zoo. After finding out no one is coming for him, elderly Jacob goes to the circus on his own. He soon meets the manager Charlie and begs him to accompany the circus by selling tickets. Charlie agrees and Jacob believes he has finally come home.

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About Me

Hello and thanks for visiting my blog! I'm married to the wonderful Ryan and mother of two little beauty Queens: Wyndham Lee and Paisley James. This blog is a way to keep my loved ones up to date on my life's happenings and new projects I'm constructing and recipes I'm trying. Thanks for stopping by!
I'm a lover of sewing, crafting, decorating, organizing, cooking, baking, thrifting as well as all things domestic! I'd love if you followed my blog, always love new friends!
So long for now :)